Decision BC: Saanich North and the Islands

In 2009: Liberal cabinet minister Murray Coell won his fourth straight election, defeating NDP candidate Gary Holman by 245 votes, 45-44%.

History & Geography: Saanich North and the Islands was created in 1991 when Vancouver Island gained an additional four ridings. It consists of Central Saanich, North Saanich, Sidney, and the lower Gulf Islands from Pender to Galiano. It has gone to the Liberals in each election since its formation, but this is a politically diverse riding. The Gulf Islands have supported the NDP in the past, while the Liberals do better on Vancouver Island. This riding is entirely inside the federal riding that Green Party leader Elizabeth May won in the 2011 federal election, becoming the first Green MP.

Basic Stats:

• Population: 56270 (29th)

• Size: 462.7 km (36th)

• Density: 121.6 people/km (49th)

Odds and Ends: 15585 people between the ages of 55 and 70 reported living here in the last census—the largest number in the province.

Candidates

Liberals-Stephen Roberts: A former bank executive, Roberts worked in the investment research divisions of Merrill Lynch, ING and Citibank. He recently moved back to on Salt Spring Island, and is the Executive Director of a listed biotech startup. He sits on the board of the Vancouver Hospice Society and has a degree in Economics and Political Science.

NDP-Gary Holman: An economist, Holman has worked on resource and land use issues throughout British Columbia, including lands in Nisga’a and Clayoquot Sound territories. The former regional director for Salt Spring Island, Holman founded the Salt Spring Island Water Council and sits on a number of land conservancy boards.

Greens-Adam Olsen: A Central Saanich councillor in his second term, Olsen is a First Nations housing consultant. A member of the Tsartlip First Nation, he also runs a family business called Salish Fusion Knitwear, which was seen on Dragon’s Den earlier this year. Prior to that, he worked in a number of communications jobs in Victoria.

Independent-Scott McEachern.